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987
Birthdays / Re: HaPPy B'Day To PaWan ,.,.
« on: December 03, 2011, 10:49:53 PM »
happy birthday paji it party time
988
Shayari / Akhan vich 'hanjoo'
« on: December 03, 2011, 09:28:35 PM »
Akhan vich 'hanjoo' kyu aunde ne.tanhai vich 'gum' kyu staunde ne.hanjoo ponj k koi dse menu.ke aksr jina nu parwah v ni sadi o hi ena yad kyu aunde ne
989
Shayari / Dil karda ke aidan koi chaahve ke duniya bhulaake baith jye
« on: December 03, 2011, 09:27:09 PM »
Dil karda ke aidan koi chaahve ke duniya bhulaake baith jye.. Odon jannatan di bhul jave chahat jadon oh siine laake baith jye.. Ik kar kar minnatan manaave je duuja gussa khaake baith jye.. Aisa pyar jo khuda vi kade dekh lye taan oh vi kol aake baith jye..! ♥
991
News Khabran / Riots victims seek murder charges against Amitabh Bachchan
« on: December 03, 2011, 11:35:55 AM »
CHANDIGARH: Demanding framing of murder charges against Amitabh Bachchan, All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF), Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and National 1984 Victims Justice and Welfare Society, organizations which have been pursuing the court cases of anti-Sikh riot victims for past few years, have declared that they would present witnesses at Akal Takht, who saw the Bollywood actor raise slogans of 'Khoon Ka Badla Khoon' after the assassination of Indira Gandhi.
Reacting to the claims of innocence by Amitabh, AISSF leader Karnail Singh Peermohammad said the witnesses would present their case before high priests on December 5, the day Sikh clergy is planning to discuss a representation sent by Bachchan. In his letter to the Akal Takht jathedar, Bachchan had denied allegations of having provoked the attacks on Sikhs.
Babu Singh Dukhiya, 55, a riot victim, who had especially come from Delhi to attend the AISSF press conference, declared before mediapersons, "Amitabh is one of the culprits. By sending a letter and saying 'My grandfather was a Sikh,' he cannot escape punishment for his actions. I had lost 25-30 members of my family in that massacre. We strongly condemn if any government or organization is planning any move to forgive Amitabh," said Dukhiya, who resides in Tilak Vihar in Delhi.
"Amitabh's statements had actually started the massacre and he has to pay the price for it. One cannot acquit a murderer only on the basis of an apology," Dukhiya added.
Criticizing the SGPC member who forwarded Amitabh's letter to Akal Takht jathedar, Peermohammad said, "It is unfortunate that instead of demanding the filing of murder charges against Bachchan for instigating killing of Sikhs, Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) controlled Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee member is pleading his case before Sri Akal Takht Sahib while there is a criminal complaint pending against Bachchan."
Dukhiya added, "Bachchan used to call Indira Gandhi 'mother' and after her death, he used his superstar status and influence to instigate the killing of Sikhs. Due to his continued proximity with Congress, Bachchan's role in 1984 genocide was never investigated and now, when victims have filed criminal complaint in Australia, Bachchan for the first time in 27 years is forced to take a plea of innocence", added Dukhiya.
Bibi Jagdish Kaur, a prime witness in a case from November 1984, whose husband, son and three brothers were killed in the massacre, also gave a statement about how she had watched live telecast on Doordarshan where she saw "Amitabh Bachchan raising his arm and shouting the slogan, 'khoon ka badla khoon sae laengae' twice". Kaur said she would also attend the December 5 meeting.
Reacting to the claims of innocence by Amitabh, AISSF leader Karnail Singh Peermohammad said the witnesses would present their case before high priests on December 5, the day Sikh clergy is planning to discuss a representation sent by Bachchan. In his letter to the Akal Takht jathedar, Bachchan had denied allegations of having provoked the attacks on Sikhs.
Babu Singh Dukhiya, 55, a riot victim, who had especially come from Delhi to attend the AISSF press conference, declared before mediapersons, "Amitabh is one of the culprits. By sending a letter and saying 'My grandfather was a Sikh,' he cannot escape punishment for his actions. I had lost 25-30 members of my family in that massacre. We strongly condemn if any government or organization is planning any move to forgive Amitabh," said Dukhiya, who resides in Tilak Vihar in Delhi.
"Amitabh's statements had actually started the massacre and he has to pay the price for it. One cannot acquit a murderer only on the basis of an apology," Dukhiya added.
Criticizing the SGPC member who forwarded Amitabh's letter to Akal Takht jathedar, Peermohammad said, "It is unfortunate that instead of demanding the filing of murder charges against Bachchan for instigating killing of Sikhs, Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) controlled Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee member is pleading his case before Sri Akal Takht Sahib while there is a criminal complaint pending against Bachchan."
Dukhiya added, "Bachchan used to call Indira Gandhi 'mother' and after her death, he used his superstar status and influence to instigate the killing of Sikhs. Due to his continued proximity with Congress, Bachchan's role in 1984 genocide was never investigated and now, when victims have filed criminal complaint in Australia, Bachchan for the first time in 27 years is forced to take a plea of innocence", added Dukhiya.
Bibi Jagdish Kaur, a prime witness in a case from November 1984, whose husband, son and three brothers were killed in the massacre, also gave a statement about how she had watched live telecast on Doordarshan where she saw "Amitabh Bachchan raising his arm and shouting the slogan, 'khoon ka badla khoon sae laengae' twice". Kaur said she would also attend the December 5 meeting.
992
News Khabran / US Sikh group leads call for probing racing profiling
« on: December 03, 2011, 11:34:48 AM »
WASHINGTON: Amid charges of racial profiling by a group of 38 civil rights organizations led by the Sikh Coalition, the US Transportation Security Administration is investigating allegations that Mexican travellers were being targeted for extra screening.
The allegations of such targeting at Honolulu International Airport "resulted in launching an immediate and thorough investigation of the behaviour detection programme at HNL," the TSA stated on Thursday.
"Pending the completion of the investigation, TSA also provided HNL Behaviour Detection Officers refresher training to ensure the programme is focused solely on identifying suspicious behaviours."
"TSA's behaviour detection programme in no way encourages or tolerates profiling," the agency said. "Profiling is not an effective form of security and our security officers are trained to treat every passenger with dignity and respect."
The statement came as 38 civil rights organizations led by Sikh Coalition called for an independent audit of the TSA to determine whether the agency engages in racial profiling.
In a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, the groups expressed concern about reports that TSA officers targeted Mexican and Dominican travellers for extra scrutiny at airports in Hawaii and New Jersey.
TSA officers at the Honolulu International Airport targeted Mexicans so often that their colleagues called them the "Mexicutioners," it said.
Sikh travellers are routinely selected for secondary screening at some American airports, even after clearing advanced imaging technology machines without incident, the letter said.
The Sikh Coalition said it believes that "these troubling reports are the tip of the iceberg" for TSA profiling. "Based on Sikh experience, we've long suspected that TSA officers are engaged in a pattern of profiling minorities instead of focusing on criminal behaviour."
The allegations of such targeting at Honolulu International Airport "resulted in launching an immediate and thorough investigation of the behaviour detection programme at HNL," the TSA stated on Thursday.
"Pending the completion of the investigation, TSA also provided HNL Behaviour Detection Officers refresher training to ensure the programme is focused solely on identifying suspicious behaviours."
"TSA's behaviour detection programme in no way encourages or tolerates profiling," the agency said. "Profiling is not an effective form of security and our security officers are trained to treat every passenger with dignity and respect."
The statement came as 38 civil rights organizations led by Sikh Coalition called for an independent audit of the TSA to determine whether the agency engages in racial profiling.
In a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, the groups expressed concern about reports that TSA officers targeted Mexican and Dominican travellers for extra scrutiny at airports in Hawaii and New Jersey.
TSA officers at the Honolulu International Airport targeted Mexicans so often that their colleagues called them the "Mexicutioners," it said.
Sikh travellers are routinely selected for secondary screening at some American airports, even after clearing advanced imaging technology machines without incident, the letter said.
The Sikh Coalition said it believes that "these troubling reports are the tip of the iceberg" for TSA profiling. "Based on Sikh experience, we've long suspected that TSA officers are engaged in a pattern of profiling minorities instead of focusing on criminal behaviour."
993
News Khabran / I Am Singh A Family’s Irreparable Loss for the Crime of Being Sikh
« on: December 03, 2011, 11:32:48 AM »
Once there were two eras, B.C. and A.D., says an aging, grieving Indian woman at the start of “I Am Singh,” sitting in a graveyard near ground zero in Manhattan. Now there is before and after Sept. 11. And with that, this drama commences its impassioned if melodramatic jeremiad against anti-Sikh sentiment in America. More than a plea for tolerance, it is an assertion of pride in Punjab, home to much of India’s Sikh population.But neither Punjab nor New York is the principal setting. Ranveer Singh (Gulzar Chahal), in India, learns that one of his brothers has been killed, and another is missing, after an attack by skinheads in Los Angeles; his beaten father has been hospitalized. In California, Ranveer consults the police, only to face stonewalling and rebuke.
He resolves to take action against the thugs himself, until he meets Fateh Singh (the blustery, barrel-chested Bollywood veteran Puneet Issar, who also directed). Though Fateh, a Los Angeles cop for 20 years, was dismissed for wearing his turban, he insists on trusting the judicial system. The two eventually do brawl with gang members, but the story turns into a legal drama when it’s revealed that Ranveer’s missing brother is in jail on suspicion of murder.
When American lawyers (Amy Rasimas and Brooke Johnston, both wooden) intervene, the film becomes a procession of speechifying, a relentless reiteration of points already crystal clear. But a coda — a return to the older woman, the mother of the brothers — resonates with loss.
Fortunately, this is a Hindi entertainment. Song sequences — about weddings, religious devotion and Punjabi martial traditions — are refreshing gulps of air amid the solemnity. Rarely has dancing been so welcome.
I AM SINGH
Opened on Friday nationwide.
Written and directed by Puneet Issar; directors of photography, W. B. Rao and Raja Ratnam; edited by Sanjay Verma; music by Surender Sodhi; art direction by Narendra Rahurikar; produced by Sardar Peshaura Singh Thind; released by Reliance Big Pictures. In Hindi, with English subtitles. Running time: 2 hours 7 minutes. This film is not rated.
WITH: Gulzar Chahal (Ranveer Singh), Amy Rasimas (Amy Washington), Brooke Johnston (Amelia White), Rizwan Haider (Rizwan Hyder) and Puneet Issar (Fateh Singh).
He resolves to take action against the thugs himself, until he meets Fateh Singh (the blustery, barrel-chested Bollywood veteran Puneet Issar, who also directed). Though Fateh, a Los Angeles cop for 20 years, was dismissed for wearing his turban, he insists on trusting the judicial system. The two eventually do brawl with gang members, but the story turns into a legal drama when it’s revealed that Ranveer’s missing brother is in jail on suspicion of murder.
When American lawyers (Amy Rasimas and Brooke Johnston, both wooden) intervene, the film becomes a procession of speechifying, a relentless reiteration of points already crystal clear. But a coda — a return to the older woman, the mother of the brothers — resonates with loss.
Fortunately, this is a Hindi entertainment. Song sequences — about weddings, religious devotion and Punjabi martial traditions — are refreshing gulps of air amid the solemnity. Rarely has dancing been so welcome.
I AM SINGH
Opened on Friday nationwide.
Written and directed by Puneet Issar; directors of photography, W. B. Rao and Raja Ratnam; edited by Sanjay Verma; music by Surender Sodhi; art direction by Narendra Rahurikar; produced by Sardar Peshaura Singh Thind; released by Reliance Big Pictures. In Hindi, with English subtitles. Running time: 2 hours 7 minutes. This film is not rated.
WITH: Gulzar Chahal (Ranveer Singh), Amy Rasimas (Amy Washington), Brooke Johnston (Amelia White), Rizwan Haider (Rizwan Hyder) and Puneet Issar (Fateh Singh).
994
News Khabran / Why does college cost so much?
« on: December 03, 2011, 11:28:22 AM »
ichard Vedder is distinguished professor of economics at Ohio University, director of the Center for College Affordability and Productivity and an adjunct scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. He is the author of "Going Broke by Degree: Why College Costs Too Much." Matthew Denhart is administrative director of the Center for College Affordability and Productivity.College costs too much, both for students and for society as a whole.
This year, according to the College Board, average published in-state tuition and fee plus room/board charges exceed $17,000 at four-year public institutions, a 6% increase from only one year earlier.
In 2009, spending by Americans for post-secondary education totaled $461 billion, an amount 42% greater than in 2000, after accounting for inflation. This $461 billion is the equivalent of 3.3% of total U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) and an amount greater than the total GDP of countries such as Sweden, Norway and Portugal.The public is taking notice. The Occupy Wall Street protesters have featured student debt forgiveness as one of their demands, and students in California have demonstrated several times in the past year after their tuition was raised twice.
Earlier this week, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan addressed some of these concerns in a speech where he urged colleges to get serious about their cost problem. But there's only so much the federal government can (and should) do. The underlying structure of American higher education needs dramatic reform before there will be any relief in sight.
Whereas private businesses cut prices for consumers and costs to themselves through efficiencies that increase profits and incomes, universities lack those incentives.
Indeed, the typical successful university president views his or her key constituencies not to be the customer (students and their parents who pay tuition charges or the granters of research funds), but rather others -- the faculty, important alumni, key administrators, trustees and occasionally politicians. They please these constituencies by raising, and then spending, lots of money.hey effectively bribe powerful faculty with low teaching loads, high salaries and good parking. They give the alumni successful intercollegiate athletic programs that are expensive and usually financed off the backs of students. They give trustees whatever they want, no matter how costly or eccentric.
Universities do a second thing unheard of in the private sector -- they often deliberately turn customers away.
A fast food chain or discount store succeeds by selling more hamburgers or television sets; no customer was ever kept from spending money at McDonald's by an "admissions office." Yet for American universities, the "bottom line" is measured by college rankings that often reward schools for turning people away, becoming more "selective." Many believe the Ivy League offers the best education in the world, so why do we encourage those elite institutions to deny access to thousands of highly qualified students every year?
Like health care, prices are rising rapidly for higher education because of the predominant role of third-party payments -- federal student loans and grants, state government support for institutions and students, private philanthropic gifts and endowment income. College seniors who borrow to finance their education now graduate with an average of $24,000 in debt, and student loan debt now tops credit card debt among Americans. When some else is paying a lot of the bills, students are less sensitive to the price, thus allowing the colleges to care less about keeping prices under control. And the nonprofit nature of institutions reduces incentives for colleges and universities to be efficient.The key to getting costs under control is contained in three words that begin with the letter "I"-- information, incentives and innovation.
Customers are ignorant of college outcomes because we do not measure in any coherent and consistent manner what students actually learn, how well they do after graduation or whether they think better in a critical manner as a result of the college experience. Even basic financial information on how colleges spend money is often not fully shared with trustees or key politicians who help fund or oversee college operations.
As mentioned above, incentives to conserve resources are few. Once, as a department chairman, I successfully battled for more faculty members to do the same amount of work, thus lowering productivity. The result? My faculty evaluated me highly so I got a nice raise. Where else do the employees get to decide who their bosses will be or how much they will be paid?
If information and incentives are provided, innovation will come. Already, we know several online and other innovations can work to deliver high-quality education services at potentially lower prices. Duncan highlighted Western Governor's University, a nonprofit online institution, as one such example.
Nondegree forms of education need more emphasis, since the number of college graduates exceeds the number of jobs available in occupations for which degrees historically have been desirable -- jobs in the managerial, technical and professional areas. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008 some 29.7% of flight attendants, 24.4% of retail salespersons and 17.4% of baggage porters had a bachelor's degree or higher.
According to my analysis of the data, more than 17 million college graduates were "underemployed" in 2008. Surely these people needed some form of post high school training, but an expensive four-year degree may not have been the best approach. Rather, perhaps we should be encouraging some students to develop skills at lower costs by utilizing innovative free courses provided by groups such as the Saylor Foundation and Khan Academy.
College costs cannot rise faster than income forever -- we cannot afford it. Necessity is the mother of invention. Like it or not, American higher education is in for big change in the next generation.
This year, according to the College Board, average published in-state tuition and fee plus room/board charges exceed $17,000 at four-year public institutions, a 6% increase from only one year earlier.
In 2009, spending by Americans for post-secondary education totaled $461 billion, an amount 42% greater than in 2000, after accounting for inflation. This $461 billion is the equivalent of 3.3% of total U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) and an amount greater than the total GDP of countries such as Sweden, Norway and Portugal.The public is taking notice. The Occupy Wall Street protesters have featured student debt forgiveness as one of their demands, and students in California have demonstrated several times in the past year after their tuition was raised twice.
Earlier this week, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan addressed some of these concerns in a speech where he urged colleges to get serious about their cost problem. But there's only so much the federal government can (and should) do. The underlying structure of American higher education needs dramatic reform before there will be any relief in sight.
Whereas private businesses cut prices for consumers and costs to themselves through efficiencies that increase profits and incomes, universities lack those incentives.
Indeed, the typical successful university president views his or her key constituencies not to be the customer (students and their parents who pay tuition charges or the granters of research funds), but rather others -- the faculty, important alumni, key administrators, trustees and occasionally politicians. They please these constituencies by raising, and then spending, lots of money.hey effectively bribe powerful faculty with low teaching loads, high salaries and good parking. They give the alumni successful intercollegiate athletic programs that are expensive and usually financed off the backs of students. They give trustees whatever they want, no matter how costly or eccentric.
Universities do a second thing unheard of in the private sector -- they often deliberately turn customers away.
A fast food chain or discount store succeeds by selling more hamburgers or television sets; no customer was ever kept from spending money at McDonald's by an "admissions office." Yet for American universities, the "bottom line" is measured by college rankings that often reward schools for turning people away, becoming more "selective." Many believe the Ivy League offers the best education in the world, so why do we encourage those elite institutions to deny access to thousands of highly qualified students every year?
Like health care, prices are rising rapidly for higher education because of the predominant role of third-party payments -- federal student loans and grants, state government support for institutions and students, private philanthropic gifts and endowment income. College seniors who borrow to finance their education now graduate with an average of $24,000 in debt, and student loan debt now tops credit card debt among Americans. When some else is paying a lot of the bills, students are less sensitive to the price, thus allowing the colleges to care less about keeping prices under control. And the nonprofit nature of institutions reduces incentives for colleges and universities to be efficient.The key to getting costs under control is contained in three words that begin with the letter "I"-- information, incentives and innovation.
Customers are ignorant of college outcomes because we do not measure in any coherent and consistent manner what students actually learn, how well they do after graduation or whether they think better in a critical manner as a result of the college experience. Even basic financial information on how colleges spend money is often not fully shared with trustees or key politicians who help fund or oversee college operations.
As mentioned above, incentives to conserve resources are few. Once, as a department chairman, I successfully battled for more faculty members to do the same amount of work, thus lowering productivity. The result? My faculty evaluated me highly so I got a nice raise. Where else do the employees get to decide who their bosses will be or how much they will be paid?
If information and incentives are provided, innovation will come. Already, we know several online and other innovations can work to deliver high-quality education services at potentially lower prices. Duncan highlighted Western Governor's University, a nonprofit online institution, as one such example.
Nondegree forms of education need more emphasis, since the number of college graduates exceeds the number of jobs available in occupations for which degrees historically have been desirable -- jobs in the managerial, technical and professional areas. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008 some 29.7% of flight attendants, 24.4% of retail salespersons and 17.4% of baggage porters had a bachelor's degree or higher.
According to my analysis of the data, more than 17 million college graduates were "underemployed" in 2008. Surely these people needed some form of post high school training, but an expensive four-year degree may not have been the best approach. Rather, perhaps we should be encouraging some students to develop skills at lower costs by utilizing innovative free courses provided by groups such as the Saylor Foundation and Khan Academy.
College costs cannot rise faster than income forever -- we cannot afford it. Necessity is the mother of invention. Like it or not, American higher education is in for big change in the next generation.
995
News Khabran / News
« on: December 03, 2011, 11:20:53 AM »
comeing soon djmoney remix sad songs ablum
996
News Khabran / Punjab National Bank opens 'Gen Next' branch to attract youth
« on: December 03, 2011, 10:42:26 AM »
LUCKNOW: The country's second largest public-sector lender Punjab National Bank (PNB) on Saturday opened its 'Gen Next' branch here, aimed at providing hi-tech banking to the youth.
"In the youth bulge economy, attracting young customer is the need of the hour and in order to do so, the Gen Next Branch will provide Gen Next banking facilities," PNB Chairman and Managing Director K R Kamath said inaugurating the branch.
The branch is well-equipped for tech-savvy customers, and has WIFI premises, cafeteria, books corner and all the gadgets as per e-lobby. Further, it will be loaded with ATM, cheque deposit machine with provision for cash deposit, pass book printing machine, he said.
It will have scanner facility to help customers go for online submission of loan applications. Kamath said that this year five such branches would be opened in the country.
Earlier, he distributed around 501 rickshaws to rickshaw pullers under the bank's financial inclusion programme.
"In the youth bulge economy, attracting young customer is the need of the hour and in order to do so, the Gen Next Branch will provide Gen Next banking facilities," PNB Chairman and Managing Director K R Kamath said inaugurating the branch.
The branch is well-equipped for tech-savvy customers, and has WIFI premises, cafeteria, books corner and all the gadgets as per e-lobby. Further, it will be loaded with ATM, cheque deposit machine with provision for cash deposit, pass book printing machine, he said.
It will have scanner facility to help customers go for online submission of loan applications. Kamath said that this year five such branches would be opened in the country.
Earlier, he distributed around 501 rickshaws to rickshaw pullers under the bank's financial inclusion programme.
997
News Khabran / Boston Celtics have roster spots to fill
« on: December 02, 2011, 11:55:31 AM »
The Boston Celtics have a shopping list this holiday season and they're hoping to have much of their work done -- or at least be ready to purchase -- by the time training camp opens next week.
Call it "Green Friday," as the NBA will open training camps Dec. 9. Teams can't officially sign players until that day, but Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said Thursday that after the league allowed general managers to start corresponding with player agents this week, he hopes to have as many as 10 players on the court at the start of camp.
"Hopefully we'll be close on Dec. 9," Ainge said. "There may be some straggling players coming in. But hopefully when we start training camp, we'll at least have 10 [players]."
The Celtics currently boast six players under contract in the playoff starting five -- Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Jermaine O'Neal -- and second-year guard Avery Bradley. The team can add two more players if it signs draft picks JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore.
Before the lockout, Boston expressed interest in undrafted guard Gilbert Brown, who seemingly could be part of a free-agent cluster brought in to compete for a spot in camp.
Ainge also indicated Thursday that the Celtics have had interest in retaining the services of restricted free agent Jeff Green.
Unrestricted free agents Glen Davis and Delonte West are also on the radar.
"We've had conversations with their representatives," Ainge said.
He did stress that nothing was close with any free agents, and the league prohibits handshake deals until free agency opens.
Ainge admitted the post-lockout landscape is a bit daunting for a team that's already committed $63.8 million to six players. And that doesn't count the $5.9 million qualifying offer to Green (whose value might only escalate if he draws interest from other teams).
"Every year is a challenge, it brings different challenges," Ainge said. "A few years back, we had a target and we went after Rasheed [Wallace], and it was easy that way. We don't have the same [financial] flexibility this summer to do some of those things. We're just in the game. We have a list of players we'd like to get. Right now there's a lot of money out there, a lot of teams with cap space. Players are waiting for the big paydays, so we have to be patient in this process."
One thing the team does know, it will not use the amnesty clause this season to take one contract off the books. Given the need for bodies, that ace in its pocket should be more valuable to the team in future seasons (even next year with at least $37.4 million coming off the books with Garnett, Allen, and O'Neal in the final year of their deals).
The Celtics also expect to be a tax-paying team -- a good sign they plan to bring back the likes of Green and Davis, even if the latter could simply be used in a sign-and-trade deal. That would mean Boston would have only the mini mid-level exception ($3 million) at its disposal to add another above-the-minimum player (while non-tax-payers will have a $5 million mid-level to entice others).
Size and shooting -- Boston's two biggest needs -- won't come cheap, and that means Ainge will have to be creative in filling out the roster. Ainge did suggest the team might be in the market for players who get released by others via the amnesty clause, but again, non-taxpayers will have a better opportunity at those available.
"We've had a long time off and a lot of GMs out there that are anxious for the season to start," he said. "There's been a lot of conversations. That's my job to field all the calls of all the teams and find the value of my players. That's what I do."
Coach Doc Rivers is bracing himself for having as much as half of the team comprise new faces.
"Listen, we don't know who we're going to have yet," he said. "Obviously, we have a list and we're going after that list. And so when you're integrating half a team to another team, it's going to be [difficult]. But we're not the only group that's doing that. Like Danny said, we do have a core group, that are familiar with what we do. Obviously, they are going to be extremely important at the start of the season to help carry whatever new guys we have.
"I expect us on the first game to be ready. We may have to put in more work to get there. We might have to go double [sessions] in training camp and even through the preseason to get there. But I think we can get there."
Call it "Green Friday," as the NBA will open training camps Dec. 9. Teams can't officially sign players until that day, but Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said Thursday that after the league allowed general managers to start corresponding with player agents this week, he hopes to have as many as 10 players on the court at the start of camp.
"Hopefully we'll be close on Dec. 9," Ainge said. "There may be some straggling players coming in. But hopefully when we start training camp, we'll at least have 10 [players]."
The Celtics currently boast six players under contract in the playoff starting five -- Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Jermaine O'Neal -- and second-year guard Avery Bradley. The team can add two more players if it signs draft picks JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore.
Before the lockout, Boston expressed interest in undrafted guard Gilbert Brown, who seemingly could be part of a free-agent cluster brought in to compete for a spot in camp.
Ainge also indicated Thursday that the Celtics have had interest in retaining the services of restricted free agent Jeff Green.
Unrestricted free agents Glen Davis and Delonte West are also on the radar.
"We've had conversations with their representatives," Ainge said.
He did stress that nothing was close with any free agents, and the league prohibits handshake deals until free agency opens.
Ainge admitted the post-lockout landscape is a bit daunting for a team that's already committed $63.8 million to six players. And that doesn't count the $5.9 million qualifying offer to Green (whose value might only escalate if he draws interest from other teams).
"Every year is a challenge, it brings different challenges," Ainge said. "A few years back, we had a target and we went after Rasheed [Wallace], and it was easy that way. We don't have the same [financial] flexibility this summer to do some of those things. We're just in the game. We have a list of players we'd like to get. Right now there's a lot of money out there, a lot of teams with cap space. Players are waiting for the big paydays, so we have to be patient in this process."
One thing the team does know, it will not use the amnesty clause this season to take one contract off the books. Given the need for bodies, that ace in its pocket should be more valuable to the team in future seasons (even next year with at least $37.4 million coming off the books with Garnett, Allen, and O'Neal in the final year of their deals).
The Celtics also expect to be a tax-paying team -- a good sign they plan to bring back the likes of Green and Davis, even if the latter could simply be used in a sign-and-trade deal. That would mean Boston would have only the mini mid-level exception ($3 million) at its disposal to add another above-the-minimum player (while non-tax-payers will have a $5 million mid-level to entice others).
Size and shooting -- Boston's two biggest needs -- won't come cheap, and that means Ainge will have to be creative in filling out the roster. Ainge did suggest the team might be in the market for players who get released by others via the amnesty clause, but again, non-taxpayers will have a better opportunity at those available.
"We've had a long time off and a lot of GMs out there that are anxious for the season to start," he said. "There's been a lot of conversations. That's my job to field all the calls of all the teams and find the value of my players. That's what I do."
Coach Doc Rivers is bracing himself for having as much as half of the team comprise new faces.
"Listen, we don't know who we're going to have yet," he said. "Obviously, we have a list and we're going after that list. And so when you're integrating half a team to another team, it's going to be [difficult]. But we're not the only group that's doing that. Like Danny said, we do have a core group, that are familiar with what we do. Obviously, they are going to be extremely important at the start of the season to help carry whatever new guys we have.
"I expect us on the first game to be ready. We may have to put in more work to get there. We might have to go double [sessions] in training camp and even through the preseason to get there. But I think we can get there."
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News Khabran / Rupee Gained 6 Paise Against U.S. Dollar In Early Trade
« on: December 02, 2011, 11:50:25 AM »
The Indian rupee gained 6 paise to Rs 51.40 per U.S. dollar in early trade on the Interbank Foreign Exchange today on steady selling of the American currency by exporters.
However, a lower opening in the equity market restricted the rupee’s gains. Dealers said increased selling of dollars by exporters and range-bound movement of the euro and Asian currencies against the dollar overseas helped the Indian rupee strengthen.
The rupee had gained 74 paise to close at a nearly two-week high of Rs 51.46/47 per US dollar in yesterday’s trade, buoyed by a rally in local stocks and expectations of more capital inflows. Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex fell by 44.75 points, or 0.27 per cent, to 16,438.70 in opening trade on Friday.
However, a lower opening in the equity market restricted the rupee’s gains. Dealers said increased selling of dollars by exporters and range-bound movement of the euro and Asian currencies against the dollar overseas helped the Indian rupee strengthen.
The rupee had gained 74 paise to close at a nearly two-week high of Rs 51.46/47 per US dollar in yesterday’s trade, buoyed by a rally in local stocks and expectations of more capital inflows. Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex fell by 44.75 points, or 0.27 per cent, to 16,438.70 in opening trade on Friday.
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News Khabran / Gold price Hits New High At Rs 29,490
« on: December 02, 2011, 11:46:59 AM »
Gold price climbed a new peak today by rising Rs 50 to Rs 29,490 per 10 grams on sustained buying by stockists to meet the ongoing marriage season demand amid a firming global trend.
The precious metal has surpassed its previous record rate of Rs 29,440 per 10 grams set on November 30. Silver followed suit and surged by Rs 1,050 to Rs 56,950 per kg on increased offtake by industrial units and jewellery makers, amid a similar firming trend in the Asian region. The trading sentiment remained bullish on sustained buying by stockists, jewellers and retailers for the ongoing marriage season, traders said.
The trend was further supported as the precious metals continued to gain fresh ground on all-round buying as a hedge against turmoil in financial markets, they said. Gold in global markets, which normally sets the price trend on the domestic front, traded higher by USD 2.80 to USD 1,748.10 an ounce and silver by 1.50 per cent to USD 33.22 an ounce in Singapore. On the domestic front, gold of 99.9 and 99.5 per cent purity added another Rs 50 each to Rs 29,490 and Rs 29,350 per 10 grams, respectively. Sovereigns rose by Rs 50 to Rs 23,350 per piece of eight grams.
In a similar fashion, silver ready spurted by Rs 1,050 to Rs 56,950 per kg and weekly-based delivery by Rs 2,750 to Rs 57,650 per kg. However, silver coins held steady at Rs 63,000 for buying and Rs 64,000 for selling of 100 pieces.
The precious metal has surpassed its previous record rate of Rs 29,440 per 10 grams set on November 30. Silver followed suit and surged by Rs 1,050 to Rs 56,950 per kg on increased offtake by industrial units and jewellery makers, amid a similar firming trend in the Asian region. The trading sentiment remained bullish on sustained buying by stockists, jewellers and retailers for the ongoing marriage season, traders said.
The trend was further supported as the precious metals continued to gain fresh ground on all-round buying as a hedge against turmoil in financial markets, they said. Gold in global markets, which normally sets the price trend on the domestic front, traded higher by USD 2.80 to USD 1,748.10 an ounce and silver by 1.50 per cent to USD 33.22 an ounce in Singapore. On the domestic front, gold of 99.9 and 99.5 per cent purity added another Rs 50 each to Rs 29,490 and Rs 29,350 per 10 grams, respectively. Sovereigns rose by Rs 50 to Rs 23,350 per piece of eight grams.
In a similar fashion, silver ready spurted by Rs 1,050 to Rs 56,950 per kg and weekly-based delivery by Rs 2,750 to Rs 57,650 per kg. However, silver coins held steady at Rs 63,000 for buying and Rs 64,000 for selling of 100 pieces.
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News Khabran / Sikhs were being "deliberately targeted" in Italian airports
« on: December 02, 2011, 11:45:02 AM »
A Shiromani Akali Dal MP alleged that Sikhs were being "deliberately targeted" in Italian airports and charged the government for its failure to safeguard the interests of the community despite assurances.
In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Harsimrat Kaur Badal said she was registering a strong protest on behalf of the entire community against the "ill-treatment" of Sikhs at airports in Italy and other countries. Referring to the latest incident of Jet Airways commander Ravijodh Singh Dhupia, who was forced to remove his turban at Milan airport, she pointed out the failure of the Congress-led UPA regime in pressurising the Italian government in this regard.
"It was intolerable and unfortunate that the officials deployed on international airports time and again harassed Sikhs by removing their turbans on the pretext of security checks," she said. The Bathinda MP lamented that repeated incidents in Italy has proved that the Centre has failed to convey to the Italian government and others not to force Sikhs remove their turbans. She added that asking a Sikh to remove his turban amounted to an "atrocity".
Condemning the act, the SAD MP said that despite several assurances by External Affairs Minister in the Lok Sabha, such incidents have not stopped. "Such behaviours in the airports of Italy are unacceptable to Sikh community," she said. Earlier golfer Jeev Milkha Singh Singh's coach Amritinder Singh was asked by the Milan airport security staff to remove his turban, not just once but twice, during arrival as well as departure, she pointed.
In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Harsimrat Kaur Badal said she was registering a strong protest on behalf of the entire community against the "ill-treatment" of Sikhs at airports in Italy and other countries. Referring to the latest incident of Jet Airways commander Ravijodh Singh Dhupia, who was forced to remove his turban at Milan airport, she pointed out the failure of the Congress-led UPA regime in pressurising the Italian government in this regard.
"It was intolerable and unfortunate that the officials deployed on international airports time and again harassed Sikhs by removing their turbans on the pretext of security checks," she said. The Bathinda MP lamented that repeated incidents in Italy has proved that the Centre has failed to convey to the Italian government and others not to force Sikhs remove their turbans. She added that asking a Sikh to remove his turban amounted to an "atrocity".
Condemning the act, the SAD MP said that despite several assurances by External Affairs Minister in the Lok Sabha, such incidents have not stopped. "Such behaviours in the airports of Italy are unacceptable to Sikh community," she said. Earlier golfer Jeev Milkha Singh Singh's coach Amritinder Singh was asked by the Milan airport security staff to remove his turban, not just once but twice, during arrival as well as departure, she pointed.